KATHMANDU, NOVEMBER 5
The Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) will host the 2026 General Assembly of the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA) in Kathmandu from October 28 to 31, marking a significant milestone for Nepal's mountaineering fraternity.
The announcement was made during the UIAA General Assembly held from October 23 to 26 in Peja, Kosovo, where the NMA played an active role.
Leading the Nepali delegation, NMA President Phur Gelje Sherpa raised two major agendas that received strong support from international delegates - the establishment of a Mountain Adventure University in Nepal and the recognition of six additional 8,000-metre peaks within the country.
According to the NMA, the proposed university aims to advance education and professional training in mountain adventure and tourism, while the recognition of new peaks would highlight Nepal's unmatched contribution to the world's highest mountains and promote sustainable mountaineering.
The Kosovo assembly, attended by 104 representatives from 94 member associations across 73 countries, served as a key platform for dialogue and cooperation in global mountaineering.
President Sherpa's participation and presentation of Nepal's mountaineering initiatives received widespread appreciation from international delegates, further elevating Nepal's profile in global mountain affairs, NMA said
Expressing gratitude to the UIAA leadership and the host federation, Sherpa invited international cooperation to make the Kathmandu 2026 assembly "a meaningful celebration of shared mountain heritage."
The UIAA, founded in 1932 and headquartered in Berne, Switzerland, is the global governing body for climbing and mountaineering, representing federations from six continents.
